How To Apply To MIT

If you are an international student, you may not be familiar with the application process for American colleges, including MIT. This is a quick overview to help you understand how applying to an American school like MIT works. Some of the information in here is also true for American colleges other than MIT, but you should make sure to check with other schools before applying, since we can't speak for them! 

Am I lnternational? 

 

MIT considers any student who does not hold US citizenship or permanent residency to be an international applicant, regardless of where you live or attend school. US Permanent Residents are those students who have an official copy of their Green Card in hand. If you are in the process of obtaining a Green Card, then you are considered by MIT to be an international student, regardless of where your high school is located. If you are an American citizen or permanent resident, then you are considered a domestic applicant; however, if you have lived for long periods of time outside the United States, some of this information may still be helpful to orient you in the process.

When To Apply

Most US students apply to MIT at the beginning of their final year of high school and international applicants should do the same.  Only accepted students are required to send final grades and we understand that they will not be available until the summer months.  Most students in most countries are 17-19 years of age for this. Some may be younger, especially if they have studied ahead; some may be older, especially if their countries have mandatory military service after secondary school.
Students who have already enrolled at another university - either in America or abroad - must apply to MIT as a transfer student.

How MIT Considers International Applicants

MIT receives many applications from very smart and talented international citizens. From this great pool of candidates we may only take a small cupful. Every year more than 4,000 international students apply to MIT, and we can admit fewer than 150.
We limit the number of international students we can accept because of our generous financial aid. MIT is one of the few schools in the world that offers need-blind admissions and meets their full financial need. "Need-blind" means we will consider your application equally, no matter how rich or poor you are or how much you could pay to attend. "Meeting your full financial need" means MIT will give you enough financial aid so that you can afford to attend, no matter how much or how little your family can pay.
Even though the international application process is very competitive, we still admit wonderful students from all over the world every year. There are students from 115 countries at MIT.  Approximately 9% of our undergraduates are international, and 38% of graduate students are citizens of other countries. There is a strong international community here at MIT, so no matter how far you are from home, you can still feel at home here.

What You Need To Do

In order to apply to MIT you must take some tests and complete the application. You should also try to schedule an interview with an MIT alum. Due to capacity issues only a limited number of interviews are available in some regions outside the US. If you live outside the US and your interview is initially waived, you will be notified if an interviewer becomes available and of any applicable deadlines. Requesting an interview will not insure that you will receive an interview. If it is not possible to provide an interview for you, we will not hold it against you.

Grades & Coursework

If you attended high school outside of the United States, your grades and subjects of study may have been very different than those of most American students. However, this will not negatively impact your application to MIT.
MIT Admissions Counselors are trained to understand the educational system in your part of the world. We do not try to convert your grades to the American system, or to find other sorts of equivalence. You will not be competing against your classmates or against students in other parts of the world; we do not have caps or quotas for countries. We consider each student as an individual as they proceed through our process.
However, all students are required to demonstrate minimum competence in fields they will continue to study at MIT. We recommend that all international students study:

• Four years of English
• Mathematics, at least to the level of calculus
• Two or more years of history / social studies
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics

While these courses are not required, studying them will increase the chances that you will be sufficiently prepared academically to attend MIT.

Tests To Take

International students - or domestic students who do not speak English natively - have two options for testing. We have no preference between these options. It is your choice, and you should take the set of tests with which you feel the most comfortable (All January testing is allowed.):

• Option 1: The SAT or the ACT, as well as two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m).
• Option 2: The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) as well as two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2) and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m). This option is especially recommended for students who do not speak English at home or in school, or who have been speaking English for fewer than five years.

Native English speakers must take either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Plus Writing; and two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m).
All students must meet the testing requirements. You may not substitute other exams (such as IB, A Levels, etc.) for the above testing requirements. Students from countries where the SAT and ACT are not offered (such as Iran and the People's Republic of China) will be considered without a full set of required test scores on a case-by-case basis.
We have no minimum or recommended scores for the SAT Reasoning Test, the ACT Plus Writing, or the SAT Subject Tests. You may wish to view testing statistics from the most recent admissions cycle here.
However, we do have minimum and recommended scores for the TOEFL. These minimums are in place to ensure your level of English proficiency. Because MIT offers no English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, and English is the language of MIT, all students must show that they will thrive in our community. The minimum TOEFL scores are:

	Minimum	Recommended
Paper Based Test (PBT)	577	600+
Internet Based Test (iBT)	90	100+

Your scores must be reported to us officially from the testing agency; scores you list on your application and scores appearing on your school transcript will not be considered official. We recommend you list MIT as a school to receive your scores when you take the test. If you take the January test, you must list MIT as a school to recieve your scores or we will not receive your scores in time for our review. Our SAT and TOEFL code is 3514 and our ACT code is 1858.
It is important for all students - and very important for international students - to register for tests with the same name as you have indicated on your application and MyMIT account. Your record and test scores will not be linked in our system if the names do not match.
You can get more information and register for the SAT tests online at www.collegeboard.org, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) at www.ets.org/toefl, and the ACT at www.act.org.

The MIT Application

Application Process

International students fill out the same application as domestic students. For more information, you should read more about:

• Creating a MyMIT account
• Part 1: Personal Information
• Part 2: Essays, Academics, and Activities
• Interviewing
• February Updates & Notes Form
• Submitting Supplements

MyMIT

MIT does not use the Common Application. Instead, we use our own system, which lives at my.mit.edu and goes by the name of MyMIT.
You may create a MyMIT account even if you are not sure you will apply. In fact, it's probably a good idea to do so especially if you aren't sure!
For those of you for whom college applications are still far distant, creating a MyMIT account will subscribe you to the monthly admissions newsletter of awesome stuff going on at MIT.
And as the application season approaches for you, we will occasionally email all applicants to gently remind them of upcoming dates, deadlines, tips, and so forth.
MyMIT is also where you will get the information for your alumni interviewer, since at MIT you contact your interviewer while you are applying.
And then, if you do decide to apply, you will eventually do so through MyMIT, which also contains the entire online application.
So just head over to my.mit.edu and have at it!

Early vs Regular

MIT has two application cycles: Early Action and Regular Action. 

What's The Difference? 

Only the dates of the deadlines!
There is no positive or negative prejudice associated with or conferred by applying during either cycle. We do not have a preference, and there is no strategic benefit to be had. We have two cycles for two reasons: 1) it helps us spread our work out over a longer period, devoting more time to each application and 2) it provides applicants with more options so they can choose which works best for them.

Rules & Restrictions: 

Early Action is limited to US citizens and permanent residents; international citizens may only apply during Regular Action.
MIT Early Action isn't single-choice, binding, or anything like that. If you choose to apply to MIT during Early Action, we do not place any limits on where else you may apply, nor do we require you to attend if admitted (though we sure hope you do!)
However: if you apply to another school during Early Action that does have a restriction, MIT requires that you respect those rules. So for example, if you apply to another school that is "single choice" - meaning that you can only apply there during the early period - you may not simultaneously apply to MIT. But that's just good manners.

Part 1: Biographical Information

Submitting the Part 1 of your application through MyMIT initiates your application process.

Deadline

This form must be submitted no later than November 1 if you're applying Early Action, or no later than January 1 if you're applying Regular Action. We prefer that you submit this form as soon as possible, so that we can get a head start on processing your application file. However, remember that there is not strategic benefit associated with or conferred by applying during either Action cycle. Just do what works for you! 

Application fee / fee waiver

We ask most students to pay a $75 application fee. If the application fee presents a hardship for you and your family, you may qualify for a fee waiver. We will accept fee waivers from most sources, such as the College Board (including SAT fee waivers and the "Realize Your College Potential" program), the ACT, and NACAC, among others.

Parent Information

Please provide the requested information about your parents. If you're a member of a non-traditional family, please provide information about the persons whom you consider to be your mother and father, whether they are your biological parents, adoptive parents, or stepparents.

Field of Study

We're asking about your preferred field of study because we're curious about what interests you right now - not because we have any quotas. You won't declare your major until the end of your freshman year - there's a lot of time between now and then to explore, discover new things, change your mind.

For this reason, approximately half of our students ultimately major in something entirely different from what they wrote on their application, so we couldn't use this data to predict anything even if we wanted to. Moral of the story: neither writing "theoretical nuclear intergalactic business physics" nor "underwater basket weaving" will give you an edge in the admissions process, so just be honest!

Part 2: Essays, Activities, & Academics

Essays

Rather than asking you to write one long essay, the MIT application consists of several short response questions and essays designed to help us get to know you. Remember that this is not a writing test. These are the places in the application where we look for your voice - who you are, what drives you, what's important to you, what makes you tick. Be honest, be open, be authentic - this is your opportunity to connect with us.

You should certainly be thoughtful about your essays, but if you're thinking too much - spending a lot of time stressing or strategizing about what makes you "look best", as opposed to the answers that are honest and easy - you're doing it wrong. 

Activities

Please use our form, not a resume, to list your activities. There is only enough space to list five things - please choose the five that mean the most to you and tell us a bit about them. This will tell us more about you than any "laundry list" of everything you've ever done in high school.

You are welcome to submit a supplemental resume, but submitting a resume instead of filling out our activity list can hurt you (so don't).

Self-reported Coursework Form

How you fill out this form will not make or break your application, so don't stress about it. Use your best judgment - we're simply trying to get a clear picture of your academic preparation by subject area. We see thousands of different transcripts, so it really helps us to view your coursework and grades in a consistent format.

Here are five quick tips tips to help you complete this section:

• The self-reported coursework should be completed by students in U.S. school systems only. If you attend an international school, we'll just use your transcript. 
• The information you provide does not replace your official high school transcript, which must be sent to us from your school to verify your self-reported information (in order to avoid accidental misrepresentation, it might help to have a copy of your high school transcript in front of you while completing this form). 
• Avoid abbreviations, if at all possible, and enter the names of your school courses by subject area. Please include all classes you have taken and are currently taking. If your courses were taken outside of your high school (at a local junior college or university, for example), tell us where they were taken in the "Course Title" field.
• If there aren't enough spaces for all the courses you have taken, start with your most recent (current) class and work backwards. You can also use the "Additional courses" section as an overflow section for any of the subject areas.
• In the "Term and/or Final Grade(s)" field, list term and/or final grades for each class, as found on your school transcript (semester, trimester, quarter, final, etc.). Use one line only per class - for example, it's not necessary to use a separate line for each semester of the same class. Place all grades for a class in the same field, separating grades with commas.

Letters of Recommendation

Three people at your school will submit materials on your behalf: two teachers and a guidance counselor. MIT's recommendations process is online; you will need to create a separate recommendations account in addition to your MyMIT account.

The Online Recommendations Process

1. Create an account. Visit https://mit-recs.applywithus.com/apply/to/mit and click on "Applicants" to register. (Please note your email and password, which you will need to access your recommendations account in the future.)
2. Complete your Applicant Profile and select your decision plan. You will need your MIT Application ID number, which you can find on your MyMIT Dashboard. Once you complete your Applicant Profile you will need to select the Decision Plan you applied for, either Early Action or Regular Action. Note that your decision plan selection on Part 1 of the MIT Application form will be your official choice, and any changes to your decision plan after submission of the Part 1 will need to be communicated via email to admissions@mit.edu.
3. Go to the Evaluations section to request your recommendations. Click on the "Start New" button underneath the form you wish to request, complete the request form with your evaluator's name and email address, and send the request. This generates an email to your evaluator with instructions on how to complete the form you requested. Your "Checklist" will update automatically as they complete your form.
4. Check your Checklist, which updates in real time. After the Checklist shows an item as complete, it will also appear as complete in the MyMIT application tracking system once it has been processed (typically after a couple business days).

Recommendations: Whom to Ask

MIT requires two letters of recommendation from teachers. One recommendation ("Evaluation A") should be from a math or science teacher and one ("Evaluation B") should be from a humanities, social science or language teacher. You should certainly ask a teacher who has taught you in an academic class in high school (i.e. no middle school, and no basket weaving class). Ideally, this will also be a teacher who knows you as more than just a student who does well on all the tests. We find that the best recommendations are written by teachers who know an applicant well as both a student and a person.
As a general rule, if the teacher teaches a class that would count towards MIT's math & science requirement, that teacher should fill out the A Evaluation; if the teacher teaches a class that would count towards MIT's humanities, arts, and social sciences requirement, that teacher should fill out the B Evaluation.

A Evaluation potential subjects
Math Biology Chemistry Physics Earth Science	Environmental Science Computer Science Engineering Technology Science Research (as a class)

B Evaluation potential subjects
English History Foreign Language Classics Economics	Government Psychology Social Studies Geography

Your guidance counselor (or equivalent) should submit the Secondary School Report, along with your transcript. Most counselors also attach a letter of recommendation and a School Profile, describing your school's curriculum and community.
Supplemental evaluations are also welcome — we simply ask that they provide different or additional context beyond the two we’ve already requested. Most applicants, and most admitted students, do not submit any supplemental recommendations. Forms for Supplemental Recommendations are available through your MyMIT account. Evaluations from coaches, research mentors, and music teachers may be submitted via our portfolio system, which is described here and linked to from your MyMIT account.

Tests & Scores

How We Use Test Scores

Standardized tests are required for any freshman application to MIT. However, they are not the only factor, or even the most important factor.
When we get your application, we review all of your academic information - grades, scores, classes, etc - to ensure that you are prepared for MIT. In part because of the strength of our applicant pool, the majority of our applicants are very well prepared to succeed at MIT.
What this means is that you shouldn't stress out too much about your scores, because we admit people, not numbers. Seriously. That said, tests are certainly important, and you should prepare for them as best you can.

Testing Requirements

Standardized Test Requirements

All applicants must complete one test from each category

SAT/ACT/TOEFL	Math SAT II Subject Test	Science SAT II Subject Test
SAT	Math Level 1	Biology
ACT plus writing	Math Level 2	Chemistry
TOEFL		Physics

 

For native English speakers:

We require the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Plus Writing with the writing test. We do not prefer one over the other. In addition, we require two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m). We do not have a preference as to which science you take or which level math you take.

For non-native English speakers:

You have two options: 1) take the tests required for native English speakers (see above), or 2) you may take the TOEFL and two SAT Subject Tests, one in math (level 1 or 2) and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m).
If you have been using English for less than 5 years or do not speak English at home and school, we strongly suggest that you take the TOEFL.  We do not accept IELTS in place of TOEFL.

Superscore

If you take the same test (SAT, ACT, or an SAT Subject Test) multiple times, we will consider the highest score achieved in each section. We do this in order to consider all applicants in their best light.
For example, if you take the SAT Reasoning Test in 11th grade and score 750 math, 700 critical reading and 650 writing, and then take the SAT again in 12th grade and score 700 math, 650 critical reading and 700 writing, only your best scores from each sitting (i.e. 750 math, 700 critical reading and 700 writing) are used in our admissions calculations.
Students are free to use the College Board's Score Choice option and the ACT's option to submit the scores of your choice as well.

Testing Deadlines and Reporting Scores

In order to apply for freshman admission, you must take the required tests on or before the November test date for Early Action or the January test date for Regular Action. These are the latest scores that will reach the Admissions Committee in time for review.
Your scores must be reported to us officially from the testing agency; scores you list on your application and scores appearing on your school transcript will not be considered official.
Please allow plenty of time for your scores to arrive at MIT. It takes at least 4 to 6 weeks for us to receive SAT scores. We recommend that you list MIT as a school to receive your scores when you take the test. If you are an Early Action applicant, and you take the November test, or if you take the January test, you must list MIT as a school to receive your scores or we will not receive them in time for our review.
It is important that you register for tests with the same name as you have indicated on your application or MyMIT account. Your record and test scores will not be linked in our system if the names do not match.
Registration information:

• SAT Reasoning Test and Subject Tests: MIT's code is 3514
• ACT Plus Writing: MIT's code is 1858
• TOEFL: MIT's code is 3514

When To Take Which Tests

Obviously, it's vital that students take all tests on or before the deadlines. Beyond that, however, choose your test dates strategically! For example, if you will be completing high school physics, chemistry or biology before your senior year, it's very wise to take the appropriate SAT Subject Tests(s) right afterwards (usually May or June), while the material is fresh in your mind.
Many applicants do take at least one science subject test during senior year, after completing only a portion of the given course; our Admissions Committee recognizes this and judges the scores accordingly. As a general rule, however, it's best to take a subject exam just after you've completed a whole course.
The content of your math courses should determine whether you take the Level 1 or the Level 2 Math test and when (we have no preference between the two tests). Before you choose the dates for any of your tests, particularly the math test, be sure to get advice from your guidance counselor and your teachers.

Competitive Scores

We do not have cutoff or recommended scores for the ACT Plus Writing, SAT Reasoning Test, or SAT Subject Tests as scores are evaluated within an applicant's context. To view test score statistics from the most recent admissions year, visit our admissions statistics page.
Because MIT is an English medium university, language proficiency is crucial.  For this reason, we do have minimum scores for the TOEFL exam:

• IBT: 90 minimum; 100 recommended
• PBT: 577 minimum; 600 recommended

 

Interview

 

About the Interview

At MIT we don't just want to see how you look on paper: we're interested in the whole person. That's why, whenever possible, we offer an interview with a member of the MIT Educational Council, a network of over 3,000 MIT graduates around the world who volunteer to meet with applicants in their home area.

Interviews are strongly recommended. In fact, last year, of eligible applicants, we admitted 10.8% of those who had an interview (or who had their interview waived) but only 1% of those who chose not to interview.

How

You will receive your Educational Counselor's (EC) name and contact information via your MyMIT account. 

Please note that, unlike many other schools, at MIT you must contact your interviewer! If you are applying during Early Action, you must contact your interviewer by October 20th; Regular Action applicants must contact their interviewers by December 10. 

Where

Your interview will take place in your local area. Most ECs will suggest meeting at a mutually agreed upon site like a local coffeehouse, restaurant, bookstore or library.

If there are no alumni/ae volunteering to interview in your area, we may try to arrange a SKYPE interview for you, or your MyMIT account will indicate that we are unable to offer you an interview with a local volunteer. Please don't let this distress you. Remember, the interview is not a required component of the application, and the Admissions Committee will be aware that we were unable to offer you an interview.

What To Expect

Typically, interviews last an hour, though they can range from 30 minutes to two hours long.

Before you meet with your EC, try to anticipate some of the questions you might be asked. Talk with friends and family about their interview experiences, or read our blog entries about interviews. Think through stories or examples that will give your interviewer a vivid sense of your passions and aspirations. Some students choose to bring an activities list or other materials to illustrate their interests more clearly. Please feel free do so if you wish. However, MIT only requires that you bring yourself.

MIT interviews are not usually formal affairs. Dress in a manner that is appropriate for the meeting place you have agreed upon. You don't need to be "all dressed up", but you shouldn't be dressed in a manner that would embarrass your grandmother.

Finally - as is true for all parts of our application process - just be yourself! 

For more information contact interview@mit.edu.

 

February Updates & Notes Form

This online form is required for all applicants, including Early Action deferred applicants and Regular Action applicants. The February Updates & Notes Form will be available on your MyMIT account in January and should be completed as soon as possible after completion of the fall semester (or after completion of the second quarter, if your school uses a quarter-based system). If your school uses a trimester schedule, please use your first trimester grades.  Students who have already graduated simply select the "Already Graduated" option on the form.

Please be sure to get your official midyear grades from your Guidance Office in order to complete the February Updates & Notes Form accurately. Your Guidance Office does not need to mail your midyear grades to us directly - we will verify the accuracy of the information you submit as needed.

The February Updates & Notes Form also includes an opportunity for you to update us on anything important that has occurred since you submitted your application. Using the February Updates & Notes Form for such updates is preferred over mailed updates.

Portfolios & Additional Material

While we neither expect nor require additional material beyond the application, we know that many students are involved in many cool activities outside of class, and we love to hear about them!
Visual artists, makers, performing artists, and researchers may send in portfolios for review by MIT staff or faculty through Slideroom.

Portfolios must be submitted by November 1 for Early Action or January 1 for Regular Action.
Research
Students who have worked on a significant research project outside of high school classes are welcome to submit a research supplement via Slideroom. If you have worked on more than one research project, we recommend focusing on the project that is most important to you.
Please answer a brief questionnaire about your research and provide a letter of recommendation from your research mentor. Researchers may include a PDF of their abstract, poster, or research paper if available.
Music & Theater Arts
Performing artists (musicians, composers, dancers, designers, directors, writers, and actors) with exceptional talent are welcome to submit a supplement via Slideroom. We recommend submitting work that represents a range of styles or skills, if available.

• Musicians: Submit two recordings representing contrasting styles or periods, of about 10 minutes total duration. Each selection must be an unedited solo performance. If possible, include accompaniment where appropriate.
• Composers: Submit one recent composition score in pdf format.
• Actors, dancers, directors, and designers: Submit up to three videos or images. Please keep the total video time no longer than 10 minutes.
• Writers: You may submit one or two scripts, of about 10 pages each. If your work was performed and recorded, you may submit up to 10 minutes of video.

Visual Art & Architecture

Visual artists or architects with exceptional talent are welcome to submit a portfolio via Slideroom.
We encourage all types of visual art, including photography, sculpture, and architectural work. You may submit a portfolio of up to 10 images of your work for review. Include the title, medium, brief description, and date each piece was completed. For architecture portfolios, we recommend submitting images that display a range of skills, including 3D and technical drawing as well as freehand drawing.
Makers
The Maker Portfolio is an opportunity for students to showcase their projects that require creative insight, technical skill, and a 'hands-on' approach to learning by doing. Members of the MIT Engineering Advisory Board review all Maker portfolios. If you would like your technically creative work to be reviewed by academic and instructional staff, then it might be a good fit for the Maker Portfolio.
For your Maker Portfolio, you may submit images, video totaling no more than 120 seconds, and up to one PDF of technical documentation and/or specifications via Slideroom.
Athletics
If you are an accomplished athlete and you plan to participate at the varsity level in college, we encourage you to contact the MIT coach for your sport. All varsity coaches can be reached through MIT’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation. Due to NCAA rules, coaches may not be able to reply.
Other Supplemental Materials
Our admissions process is designed to be completed online. Note that all materials that are not already electronic are scanned and uploaded; we cannot process non-scannable materials such as CDs, DVDs, books, slides, certificate binders, or newspaper clippings. If there are other pieces of scannable information that you feel would add depth to your application, you must download and print an MIT Supplemental Document Cover Sheet from your MyMIT account and attach it to any non-required document you submit. If you are mailing materials to MIT, please use this address:
MIT Undergraduate Admissions Processing Center
P.O. Box 404
Randolph, MA 02368

Courtesy & for more information: http://mitadmissions.org/ 

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